Dealing with the part of your pet that won’t stay on your pet -- FUR

Palm Coast Observer
Neighbors

I am not complaining, I look forward to writing my column every week. But instead of being focused on writing about one of my favorite subjects -- animals; I am being drawn to my vacuum cleaner.

OK, it is a Dyson and (in my opinion) the best money I've ever spent. We have gone through countless vacuums because: A. I don't like spending a fortune on something that sucks dirt; and B. There is one dog, one bird, and one cat in this house that could make a zookeeper shudder at the hair and feathers.

Getting excited over a vacuum seemed odd, still does to be truthful, but I have to admit James Dyson does know vacuums. I mentioned to my daughter that I bought a vacuum that I am way too excited about – her immediate response – “You got a Dyson!” and immediately laid claim to it in the will. I am hoping that means, she too thinks it (and I) will last a long time.

The best way to reduce (you will never eliminate) the excess fur is to brush your pets every single day. Right, and I floss my teeth after every meal, too.

There are seasons, though it seems to be 11 out of 12 months in Florida, where animals shed their coat. How much they shed has a lot to do with the breed. If you have a dog that requires grooming, like a wire haired terrier or poodle, you are probably not going to see any tumblefur rolling across your tile floor.

A good diet, with good quality food will help your pet obtain a glossy, healthy coat of hair – that will still shed under the bed, but hopefully less.

If your pet is shedding excessively (i.e. thinning coat and bald spots), or if your cat stops grooming herself, please make an appointment with your vet. There is something going on that even a fantastic vacuum can’t fix.

Do you have a tip you would like to share on pet grooming? I would love to hear from you!